Obituaries

Renowned painter Olive Freda Vandruff Bugbee of Clarendon died here on Saturday, January 4, 2003, at the age of 94.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. January 15 in the Hazlewood Lecture Hall at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon

Born at Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, on April 17, 1908, to Ross and Mame Buskirk Vandruff, she spent much of her childhood traveling in the Southwestern United States with her geologist father and her mother. In Chicago, she studied with painter Edmund Giesbert at the University of Chicago.  She also studied with Chicago sculptors Elisabeth H. Hibbard and Frederick C. Hibbard in the mid 1940s, eventually becoming an assistant to them. Vandruff moved to San Antonio in 1931, where she became an assistant to sculptor Pompeo Coppini.

About 1937, she married the engraver Charles F. Anderson.  In 1950 she operated a sheep ranch near Kerrville. While in the Hill Country, she became a renowned painter of animals and birds and was often commissioned to paint pet and horse portraits. She met Western artist H.D. Bugbee of Clarendon in 1960, marrying him the following year and relocating to Clarendon. 

Upon Bugbee’s death in 1963, Vandruff succeeded him as curator of art at the Panhandle-Pains Historical Museum until her retirement in 1982. After retiring, she still volunteered at the Museum, driving the 150 mile round trip from Clarendon nearly every day until November 2002.

Vandruff worked in several media, including pastel, watercolor, casein, and oil.  She was a member of the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts in San Antonio and began exhibiting there in the early 1930s.  By the early 1960s, she had had numerous solo exhibitions.  Vandruff’s paintings are found in private collections across the United States.

Among her patrons were former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.  Her public commissions consist of murals in Texas and Oklahoma, including a mural of Palo Duro Canyon for the First National Bank of Amarillo, now Bank of America. In 1976, she was included in the landmark exhibition, “The Women Artist, in the American West, 1860-1960,” in Fullerton, California.  Recently, she was included in the Dictionary of Texas Artists, 1800-1945.

A memorial exhibition of Vandruff’s paintings will be presented in the Bugbee Gallery at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon.  The exhibition will include works of art from her personal collection as well as from the Museum’s.

Her body will be cremated.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Graveside services for Jude Burton were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2002, in Citizens Cemetery with Carl Cox officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Jude was stillborn on Sunday, December 29, 2002, in Wolforth, Texas.

Survivors include his parents, Rev. Darrell and Julie Burton of Clarendon; one sister, Jency Burton of the home; two brothers, Keifer Burton and Justus Burton of the home; grandparents, Ken and Patsy Burton of Lubbock and Danny and Jan Kilcrease of Wolforth.

Funeral services for Melba Louise Leathers, age 80, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2002, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor, and Rev. Richard Leathers, step-son of Dodd City, officiating.  Burial was held at the Jericho Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Leathers died Saturday, December 21, 2002, in Amarillo.  She was born January 24, 1922, at Lelia Lake and had been a resident of Jericho and Clarendon in Donley County most of her life.  She married Andrew Starland Brown on December 24, 1941.  He preceded her in death on August 13, 1982.  She married Johnny Eugene Leathers in 1985.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Clarendon Chapter 6 Order of the Eastern Star and the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by a son, David Brown, in 1988; and a daughter, Linda Luttrell, in 1994.

Survivors include her husband, Johnny Leathers of Clarendon; two step sons, Richard Leathers and wife Angela of Dodd City, Texas; and David Leathers and wife Lorri of Amarillo; a sister, Dean Angel of Amarillo; a daughter-in-law, Betty Rae Kotara of White Deer; a son-in-law, Leo Luttrell of Amarillo; two grandchildren, Heather Brown and Kevin Brown; and three step grandchildren: Mathew Leathers, Timothy Leathers, and Amber Leathers.

Casket bearers were Charles Brown, Neeley Brown, Troy Ritter, Kenton Lowery, David Leathers, Bennie Neal Cruse, and Wayne Leathers.  Honorary bearers were the First Baptist Church Deacons, Mac Devin, Terry Ashcraft, Cecil McAfee, Ronnie Ward, Darrell Leffew, and Clarence Murray.

Mr. D.W. Tomlinson, age 84, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, died at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2002, at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville.

Funeral services for Mr. Tomlinson were held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2002, at the Highland Park Baptist in Bartlesville with Dr. Michael G. McBride officiating.  Interment was held in Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home.

Mr. Tomlinson was born on May 17, 1918, at Allenreed, Texas, to Dick Walter and Anna Cook Tomlinson.  He grew up on a farm and received his education in Lelia Lake and Clarendon.  He was married to Mildred L. Barker on August 25, 1940, at Clarendon. They later moved to Phillips, Texas, where he was employed with Phillips Petroleum Company.  Mr. Tomlinson served with the US Army during World War II in the Panama Canal area until receiving his Honorable Discharge.  He returned to Texas where he continued his employment with Phillips Petroleum Company.  He transferred to Bartlesville with Phillips in 1968 and was employed with them until his retirement in 1982 with over 40 years of service.  Mr. Tomlinson also taught AARP Adult Driver’s Safety Education and was a member of the Highland Park Baptist Church where he taught a men’s Sunday School class.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred Tomlinson of the home; two sons, Doug Tomlinson and his wife, Barbara, of Bartlesville; and Phillip and his wife, Pam, of Mesa, Arizona; one brother, Ted Tomlinson of Beaumont, Texas; one sister, Jessie Sumner of Hereford, Texas; five grandchildren, Jason Tomlinson and Niki Tomlinson, both of Bartlesville; Sean Harris of East Lansing, Michigan; Laura Tomlinson of San Clemente, California; and Greg Tomlinson of Mesa, Arizona; and one great granddaughter, Berlin Grun of San Clemente, California.

Honorary casket escorts were the Senior Men’s Sunday School Class of Highland Park Baptist Church.

A memorial has been established to the Building Fund of the Highland Park Baptist Church, 300 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006.

Esequiel A. “Kelly” Lucero, age 95, died Thursday, December 12, 2002.  Services were held in Dumas, Texas, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2002, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Mr. Lucero was born May 22, 1907, in LaLiendre, New Mexico.  He married Marcella Salaz in 1925 in Trementina, New Mexico.  He was a long time resident of Clarendon where he lived with his son José Conrad Lucero and family for years.

He was loved by everyone.  His loving touch, sound advice, and joyful spirit were not only a comfort, but an inspiration.  He always made everyone smile.  But most of all he loved God and his family.  We will always be grateful to know such a special person.

Survivors include five daughters; eight sons; 340 grandchildren and great grandchildren; and nine great great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Jewel Alene Partain, age 85, were held Monday, December 23, 2002, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Eddie Stegall, Minister and Don Stone, Minister of the White Deer Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Partain died Thursday, December 19, 2002, in Amarillo.  She was born July 30, 1917 in Leedey, Oklahoma, and moved from there to the Ashtola Community near Clarendon in 1954. She married Robert Roy Partain on June 27, 1942, at Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Emory Partain, in 1956 and a sister, Evelyn Bentley in 1997.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Partain of Ashtola; one daughter, Roberta Alene Kime of Ashtola; one son, Rudy Lynn Partain of Panhandle; two sisters, Wanda Hamilton of Weatherford, OK, Dorothy Thornton of Grants, NM;  four brothers, Avery Taylor of Irrigon, OR; Beul Taylor of Hermiston, OR; W.D. Taylor of Arnett, OK; and Buddy Taylor of Cushing, OK; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Cecil Ray Mills, Richard Wayne Mills, Ricky Lynn Partain, Roddy Glen Partain, Les Alan Thornton, and Larry Bentley.

Funeral services for Viola Lee Venable, age 90, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2002, in the Claude Cemetery with Kent Watson, Minister of the Claude Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial was held in Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Venable died Wednesday, December 4, 2002, in Claude.  She was born August 9, 1912, in Brown County, Texas, to William and Arminta Welty Malone and had been a Claude resident since 1975.  She married Elmer Lester Venable on November 24, 1930, at Lovington, NM.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Claude Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Ann Venable in 1933, and a son, Elmer Stanley Venable in 1995.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer Lester Venable of Claude; one daughter, Betty Jean Salmon of Claude; a half-brother, Lex Myers of Anson; four half-sisters, Opal Byrd, Florence Jones, and Nadine Woodard all of Anson, and Shirley Cooper of Abilene; five grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the High Plains Children’s Home and Family Services, PO Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114.

Funeral services for Barbara N. West Brashear, age 54, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2002, in the Clarendon Church of Nazarene with Rev. Bill Hodges, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., in Clarendon.

Mrs. Brashear died Saturday, December 7, 2002, in Amarillo.  She was born May 15, 1948, in Conroe, Texas, and was a resident of Lake McClellan before moving to Howardwick three months ago.  She married John Brashear on May 20, 1973, at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, John Brashear of Howardwick; two daughters, Patricia Sue Fletcher of Zavalla, Texas, and Thaffy Denet Brashear of Howardwick; three sisters, Frances Peden of Leggett, Texas; Blanche Russell of Leggett, Texas; Laverne Kelley of Cleveland, Texas; and three grandchildren, Fallon Fletcher, Jordain Fletcher, and Dylan Fletcher.

Casket bearers were Jerry Walker and family members of Mrs. Brashear.

Memorial services for George Wesley “Skeeter” Hughes, Jr., age 58, were held at 7:30 p.m. on December 11, 2002, at First United Methodist Church of Clarendon.  Cremation was done by N.S. Griggs and Sons in Amarillo.

Mr. Hughes died December 2, 2002, in Amarillo following a lengthy illness.  He was born December 20, 1943, in Amarillo.  He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1962.  He played tenor saxophone in the Amarillo High School marching band, stage band, and jazz band.  He also played bass fiddle in the Amarillo Symphony.  He attended North Texas State University on a music scholarship. He also attended the University of Texas at Austin.  He graduated in 1996 from Amarillo College with an Associate of Science degree in Computer Information Systems.

Mr. Hughes moved to Schenectady, New York, following graduation, where he worked as a programmer/analyst for CIS at John Hopkins and transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, in 2000.  In June of 2002, he moved to Clarendon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alma Hughes; one half sister, Louise Payne; and a half-brother, Wesley Scott.

Survivors include three sisters: Sue Carnery and her husband Mike of Rodgers, Arkansas; Pat Archuleta of Clarendon; and Corkey Holt and her husband Jack of Silsbee, Texas; two nieces; eight nephews; and a host of great nieces, great nephews; and other family and friends.

The family requests memorials to Crown of Texas Hospice or Circle of Friends at Harrington Cancer Center.

Funeral services for Wilma King Batson, age 90, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Batson died Thursday, November 28, 2002, in Denton, Texas.  She was born March 7, 1912, in Lelia Lake, Donley County, Texas.  She was a Donley County resident most of her life and a resident of Clarendon from 1964 until moving to Waco and then Denton after her retirement in 1976.  She was a public school teacher in Donley County schools in Windy Valley, Lelia Lake, and then Clarendon for 44 years before her retirement.  She married John Rice Batson on December 24, 1932, in Clarendon.  He preceded her in death on January 11, 1964.  She was a member of the Clarendon Chapter 6 Order of the Eastern Star, the National Retired Teachers Association, and a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by a son, Ben Keith Batson, and two brothers.

Survivors include a son, Mack Tomlinson of Denton; a daughter, Donna Kinser of Junction City, Oregon; and eight grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the Clarendon Church of Christ.